The details of the incident are shocking to many citizens.

What really happened in front of the pool

The two women from Upper Austria arrived at the four-star hotel in the late afternoon. At reception, they politely inquired about the spa's opening hours, but emphasized that they still needed to retrieve their burkinis from the car. It was only at this moment that the mood changed: The employee on duty hesitated briefly, then consulted the hotel's internal regulations – and explained that full-body swimwear was "unfortunately not permitted" in the pool.

Uncertain, the sisters asked for an explanation. But instead of a clear answer, they were simply told that "other guests" might feel disturbed, and that there were also hygiene concerns. This came as a shock to the women: they had been looking forward to a relaxing short break and suddenly felt excluded.

Don't miss the continuation on the next page.

See continuation on the next page

Hygiene or discrimination? Two versions clash.

A day later, the hotel management issued a written statement. They regretted the incident, but claimed that long lengths of fabric could interfere with cleaning cycles and strain the filter systems. They also pointed out that the pool rules were accessible to all guests. However, criticism grew on social media: numerous users shared photos of vacationers wearing long board shorts and UV shirts splashing around in the same pool without any restrictions.

Experts in pool hygiene strongly disagree with the hotel's explanation. Modern filtration systems are designed for textiles, and a burkini is made of the same lightweight material as conventional swimsuits. The crucial factor is showering before swimming – not the length of the fabric. The discussion thus shifted from hygiene to ethical considerations.

See continuation on the next page